Daily Gospel Reflection for August 5, 2023

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Though we can’t relate to making the order for someone to be beheaded, we may be more similar to King Herod than we think. In today’s Gospel, we read about King Herod making decisions out of fear and experiencing distress. I dare say we have all struggled with this.

Instead of living from a place of freedom, Herod—a king—was enslaved to the opinions of others. Though his power could have been a means for good, it became the means of violence and injustice.

We have the benefit of looking back over 2,000 years at Herod’s choices. I bet when he was in the situation, it felt similar to some of the nitty gritty situations we face. Being a king with these folks around him, making weighted choices, was the air he breathed.

What about us? Perhaps our choices based in fear seem more innocuous: We change our behavior or modify our beliefs to fit in with a new group of moms. We choose not to pray at a restaurant or pray a Rosary in public to forgo judgment. We compartmentalize our faith away from certain places or people in our lives. We allow the words of the world to take root in our heart over the Word of God.

Today, let’s ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to where we are making decisions out of fear and ask for the gifts of courage and peace to live as children of God.

Ponder:

Do you change your behaviors to gain the favor of others? Do you weigh God’s gaze as much as the gaze of those around you?

Pray:

Jesus, You know our hearts. Give us the grace to make decisions out of the depths of life lived with You rather than fear.

Click to tweet:
Perhaps our choices based in fear seem more innocuous: We modify our beliefs to fit in with a new group of moms. We allow the words of the world to take root in our heart over the Word of God. #DailyGospel

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